Blucher:The Battle of Eylau

Recently I have taken on the development of a scenario for the Battle of Eylau, Feb 7-8 1809.  The battle took place between Napoleonic France and the Empire of Russian and their Prussian allies. The battle was the culmination of Napoleon's campaign against Prussia and Russia in the Fall and Winter of 1806-07.  The battle is regarded as a draw since the Russian and Prussian armies retreated, but Napoleon's army was in no shape to pursue and retired to winter quarters shortly after the battle.

I have always been fascinated by the battle ever since I started miniature wargaming in the mid 90's. My first rules were Napoleon's Battles and I always fascinated about gaming the Eylau scenario that came with the rules.   Its was a mid-size scenario which made it feasible as a goal to paint enough figures and the description of a battle that took place in the midst of a blizzard.  Nonetheless my initial dreams came to naught.  Eventually I abandoned my 15mm Napoleonic project to take up other persuits, especially 15mm Seven Years War.  I did briefly start a 6mm Napoleonic project which didn't go very far.  Eventually I stopped miniature wargaming altogether for a few years  where apartment living was not conducive to miniature wargaming.

Eventually I did take up the hobby again mostly concentrating on my 15mm Seven Years War and some medieval Ottomans, Serbs and Hungarians.  Since the birth of my second child about 2 years ago painting and gaming time have been severely curtailed.  With limited painting time I opened up my old 6mm Napoleonics and found I could actually accomplish some painting projects with my limited amount of available time.   When Sam Mustafa announced the upcoming release of the long awaited Blucher rules I begain planning to build up my French and Russian 6mm armies.  I've been a fan of Sam's rules (especially his 18th c. rules Might and Reason) and was excited to give them a try  (You can read about my experiences with Blucher in my earlier posts).

This summer I decided to take on developing an Eylau scenario for Blucher.  I initially thought this would be an easy conversion using scenarios from other rules, but Blucher has a unique system for using artillery which I find very innovative and unique.  Instead of depicting every artillery battery as a distinct unit, players have a choice.  1. Artillery batteries (6-12 guns) can be attached to infantry units, thus increasing that units firepower. or 2.  Three batters can be combined into an Artillery Unit which is depicted on the battlefield.  This is a much different approach to other similar Napoleonic wargames and required some searching through orders of battle to know who had how many guns and which type.

Another task developing the scenario which took a lot of time was developing my own map.  This took better part of the summer (between work and other ongoing projects that I won't bore you with here) using paint while looking at maps available online and in a few books I used (see sources in the scenario.  You can upload the current draft on the Honour forum.

I am currently conducting a solo playtest and hope to have a few games do in a few weeks.  Here are some pictures from my current setup.  The scale I used for the map may be a bit too large.  I am currently using 2" bases with 6mm figures and the map measures 4'x6'.

If you can't tell that's a white sheet.  I don't have a special winter mat so an old sheet is filling in.  Blucher is played with cards which are faced down until the unit is activated or revealed.  I put the figures on their unit cards for theses pictures  and will remove them to start the game.

The French are on the left and the Russians on the right.

Here is a look at the French army you can see spread out.  I set up based on historical deployment and you can get a sense how strung out the French were trying to pin the Russians until reinforcements arrived on the Russian army's flanks. 

A close up of the Russian position of Serpallen.  One of three Russian victory locations. 

Here's the Russian right guarded by Cossacks.

Here's some Russian artillery looking down on the French in Eylau which had been fought over the previous night.  Basically the French Marshal Soult's IV Corps took the town spontaneously to get some shelter for the cold.  

More Russians

Here's Eylau occupied by Soult's IV Corps.  I used burned out building here.  The Buildings are currently off of their base to make room for the figures.  When the figures are hidden, the buildings will be set on top of the unit cards, until the unit is revealed.

 Once I get my solo test done I'll be sure to update my scenario and post a revised copy to the Honour forum.

Thanks for looking.